PC Gamer Weekender 2018: STAY
As mentioned in my round-up post earlier this week, this year’s PC Gamer Weekender was slightly disappointing. With several stands left empty and promotions people being sent in place of developers, the event felt as though it was lacking the same buzz captured at other expos such as Rezzed (although I should point out it has only been running for three years).
There was however one little title which managed to catch my eye. Tucked away at the back of the Olympia on a single PC, its pixel art called out to me but sadly went unnoticed by a lot of other gamers at the show and the chair was left unoccupied. A quick search on Google revealed that this was STAY by Appnormals Team: ‘a nail-biting tale of abduction and isolation, where every second counts’.
While the stepson was occupied with Cat Quest, another title published by PQube, Pete and I took the opportunity to have a quick chat with Product Manager Matthew Pellett. He revealed he was pleased we’d pointed this one out because he’d actually signed STAY himself, after checking it out at Gamescom last year and loving the developer’s work.
What would you do if a stranger’s fate rested in your fingertips? That’s the question asked by this conversational adventure where the player talks to Quinn, a young man who has been locked in a dark place where there’s nothing but a computer hooked up to a chat room. He’s in desperate need for help and you’re his only hope: it’s up to you to help him escape and discover who’s behind his kidnapping.
The thing that makes STAY so gripping is the fact it plays out in real-time, meaning every minute spent away from the game is another minute Quinn is left alone. You can drop out of conversations or let him fend for himself – but there may be serious consequences to those actions. Leaving him on his own for too long won’t only affect his behaviour, it could also drive him to the point where he loses his mind.
Every message sent to him via two possible responses therefore matters. He’ll learn to trust you and will share his thoughts if you can prove yourself to be a compassionate ally; but fail and his emotions may work against you. Webcams allow you to spy on Quinn so you can see his reactions while you talk to him or leave him on his own, and it’s important to use this knowledge advantageously to pick up on any lies he may be telling.
The game will feature a 24-chapter story with multiple twists, unlockable rooms, items to collect and multiple ways to die (that probably explains why Pellett told us it wasn’t something which would be suitable for under-18s). There are also secret puzzles to be solved, and in these sections the player takes direct control of Quinn to help him get the better of the conundrums he encounters inside his prison.
You may be wondering why there are no pictures of me playing STAY at the PC Gamer Weekender included in this article. That’s because I didn’t: I’ve come to learn that expos aren’t conducive to experiencing the sort of games I like to play. The noise and the crowds (and often a developer or publisher trying to talk to you) detract from it and diminish the atmosphere a title is trying to create.
I’d rather experience the title for myself at home and that’s why STAY was added straight onto my wishlist ready for when it unlocks on 30 March 2018. Take a look at the official website and Steam page for more information, give the developers a follow on Twitter and Facebook.
Kim View All
Video game lover, Later Levels blogger and SpecialEffect volunteer. Big fan of wannabe pirates and fine leather jackets.
I heard this one mentioned on Co-Optional last week and thought it sounded interesting. I’m even more curious now and I’m looking forward to seeing what becomes of it.
LikeLike
The more I read about the game after getting back from the expo, the more intrigued I was. It seems as though an awful lot of thought has gone into it. Really looking forward to playing STAY next month!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds interesting! I saw it pop up on steam in the upcoming section and thought it looked cool. I will keep an eye on it for sure!
LikeLike
It’s going to be at Rezzed, so you’ll get a chance to give it a go!
LikeLike
Good times!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds like an interesting game! Will check it out when I am home. Hope you still had a good time at the pc gamer weekender.
LikeLike
Let me know if you end up playing and streaming it! From what I’ve seen from the game so far, there’s a lot of room for people to make different choices so I’d be interested to see how someone else plays it. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I will let you know!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Definitely an intriguing game! Is it Steam-exclusive? I’d love to check it out but my computer rarely cooperates when it comes to playing games on it.
LikeLike
Damn, I should have included this information in the post! It’s also coming out on Xbox One, plus Android and iOS – so could be a good game to play during a daily commute (providing nobody is looking over your shoulder!).
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for sharing your experiences at PC Gamer Weekender, Kim, it’s good to know more about what it’s like! I’ve meant to stop by but haven’t got around to so far, it sounds like it could be fantastic but it just … hasn’t quite managed it yet. I’ve had a similar experience with a few other events.
I’m also intrigued by STAY; one to keep an eye on!
LikeLike
It’s worth a visit if it’s easy enough for you to get to London, but if that’s not the case I’d suggest waiting for Rezzed. That’s not to say the PC Gamer Weekender won’t improve with time though – and the stepson has already said he wants to go next year, so it looks like I’ll be back! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person